Carding-engine for making mottled yarns



(No Model.)

R. B. POWLER. GARDING ENGINE FOR MAKING MOTTLED YARNS. No. 448,479

Patented Mar. 17, 18191. 272

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ldwiTnn tiTaTns PriTnivT Cierres.

RUFUS B IFN ETT FOIVLER, OF IVORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNCR TO THOMAS I). SAYLES, OF NORVVICII, CONNECTICUT.

CARDlNG-ENGlN FCR MAKING MGTTLED YARNS.

SPE IFCATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,479, dated March 1*?, 1891.

Application filed May 3, 1882. Serial No. 60,337. (No model.)

To LIZ whom, '/t may concern: l

Be it known that I, RUFUs BENNETT Fow LER, a citizen of the United States, residing` at Vorcester, in the county of iVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carding-Engines for Making Mottled Yarns, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention has forits objects to produce a machine which will furnish mottled yarn in which the two colors shall appear in alternate sections ot' short length and having the change from one color to the other abrupt and dis tnct, also to so interlace the fibers at the union of adjacent colors as to form yarn of uniform strength and'tenacity; and my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the actuating mechanism by which a nearlyinstantaneous endwise movement is imparted to the dolier, with a succeeding period of dwellf and also in the mechanism by which each of the reciprocating doffers is locked in position during its period of dwell.

The following specification contains a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, in which- Figure l shows a front elevation of a pair of linisher doffers and their actuating mechanism, a portion of the main cardingcylinder being shown inthe rear at A A. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same, the main cylinder being omitted and the frame A being shown in section. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the locking device. Fig. i is a sectional view on the line or, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the reciprocating mechanism on the line e', Fig. a; and Fig. (5 shows one of the driving-gears C.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several gures.

Myinvention is applied to the carding-machine known as the finishen and the general construction and operation of the several parts of the carding-maehine do not vary from that in common use.

The drawings are fed in a horizontal layer in the usual manner, the wool being laid on the surface of the main earding-eylinder in parallel fibers and the drawings being arranged with the two colors in alternate strands.

The colors will appear upon the surface of the carding-cylinder in circumferex'itial rings or Zones l 2, l 2, 1 2, the., Fig. l.

The dofers B B3 are ot' the usual construe- 55 tion, save that they should be made as light as possible. The doilers are rotated by the pulley E, driven from the shaft of the main cylinder, pinion I), andvgears C C.

It will readily be seen by reference to Fig. 6o l that the rings of card-clothing upon the upper doffer will take the iibers of one color from the zones l l l, and the rings on the lower doiter will take fibers of the other color from the Zones 2 2 2. It the upper doffer be 65 moved to the right and the lower doffer to the left simultaneously the width of one of the rings, the upper doifer will then take the fibers from the zones of color 2 l 2 and the lower doffer from those marked l l l, and by the 7o continued reciprocation of the doit'ers the roping will show the two colors on the main cylinder in alternate sections, the length oi the sections depending upon the size and speed of the doffers and the frequency of the eudwise movements thereof.

Mottled and clouded yarns have been heretofore made in different ways. In one the surface of the doffers has been constructed with alternate iixed and sliding strips, the 8o cards on the fixed strips taking one color from the main carding-cylinder and the cards on the sliding strips arranged in the proper plane of rotation to take the other color, the sliding strips being moved so as to bring the cards into line with the cards on the xed strips, as they come under the action of the wiper or dofter knife, producing a continuous roping in which the two colors appear in alternate section 5 but this method fails to sutlicient-ly 9o interlace the fibers where the colors join, ren dering the yarn weak.

Another method has been to arrange the rings on the doffers obliquely to the axis of the doffers, so the rings would take ofi? two or more colors at each revolution Ot' the doffer; but this method, with the greatest p raeticable Obliquity of the rings, renders the sections of color longer than is desirable, and between each section of clear color will occur a section,I roo with the colors mixed, which in many cases is objectionable.

I am also aware that clouded yarns have been made by reciprocating the dolfers back and forth across the surface of carding-cylinders; but in all such cases the dotfers have been moved positively by cranks, eccentrics, or similar mechanical devices, and the motion of the doffers has consequently been slow and occurring but a few times during each revolution of the doffer, the result being the production of a yarn clouded, or with the colors more or less intermingled instead of mottled, or with constantly-repeating sections of each color, and the changes could only occur at long intervals, owing to the slowness of the movement of the doffers. g

My invention differs 4essentially from the above in the factthat I accomplish the change 1n the position of the doffer almost instantaneously by the recoil of a spring, reducing the length of the section of yarn having the colors mixed to a minimum and allowing a long period for the dwell. I also use a locking device which securely holds the doffers in position during their period of rest, and by the peculiar construction of the actuating mechanism I relieve the frame-work of the carding-engine from the concussion arising from so sudden a movement of the doffers, and the several results which character- 1 ze my invention are produced by the peculiar actuating mechanism attached to the doffers, and constructed and operated as follows:

Journaled in suitable bearings in the frame A A is the shaft B', receiv-ing its motion from the shaftof the main cylinder, through the pulley C', pinion D', and gear E. rlhe shaft B has the dri vin g-gears F F and the broad-faced gear N. The frame A A also supports the sliding shafts H II', arranged as nearly as may be in the same line as the shafts of the doffers B B3, to which they are attached by the joints V V. The actuating mechanism attached to each of the shafts II II being alike, I` shall confine my description to that of the upper shaft H, which is shown in elevation in Fig. l, in plan in Fig. 2, and in section in Fig. 5. The shaft II isheld in sliding sleeves I I, which are supported in suitable bearings in the frame A A. Turning upon the sleeves l I and bearing` against the inside of the frame are the pinions G G, driven by the gears F F', and whose hubs form cams K K, which, pressing against the projecti-ng pins J in the sleeves I I', draw the sleevesinward, compressing the spring M, the sleeves I being held from turning by the f splines a a, fixed to the frame and entering grooves in the sleeves. Similarly the sleeves I are prevented from turning by splines (not shown) held in the frame A and entering grooves in the sleeves.

yAttached to the sliding shaft II are the collars L and L', the collar L being placed against the end of the sleeve I and the collar L being placed apart from the end of the sleeve I', as far as the desired throwof the dotfer. L has a groove in which the projecting end of the spline a enters, keeping the collar and attached shaft from turning.

M is a spring held upon the shaft H, and may be either a spiral spring coiled around the section of the shaft between the sliding sleeves, or, as shown in the drawings, an elliptic spring having holes through the central section of its leaves, through which the shaft H passes. The tension of the spring M is applied to force the sliding sleeves I I outward, holding their projecting pins ,J against the cams K K. The cams K K have a continuons rotary motion, as driven bythe central shaft B, through the gears F F and G G, and the cams are so shaped that they act upon the sleeves I I throughtheir projecting pins as follows: About one-half of the rotation of the cam serves to draw the sleeve inward against the tension of the spring M, and the next half of the rotation of the cam holds the sleeve in a state of rest, then suddenly releasing the spring, which carries the sleeve instantaneously outward, and the two cams K K are so placed upon the sleeves that they act alternately and at equal intervals in their action of sliding the sleeves against the tension of the spring M and in releasing the spring. It will be seen that the cams K K have no direct action upon the sleeves I-I, except to draw them inward against the tension of the spring M.

In Figs. l and 2 of the drawings cam K is shown as having moved the sleeve I inward and as holding it in a state of rest, while cam K is engaged in moving the sleeve l inward, and as the two cams continue their rotation the sliding motion of sleeve I will be completed, and at the saine time the pin .I in the sleeveI will be released, allowing the tension of t-he spring M to push the sleeve I iustantly outward, and as the sleeve I rests against the collar L the shaft H will be carried with it, also moving the connected doifer B from color I l l to color 2 2 2. Sleeve I is then held at rest while cam K is again moving sleeve I inward, when sleeve I is similarly released, allowing the tension of the spring M to apply its force to the sleeve I, moving it instantly outward,and as the sliding motion of the shaft H to the right, as already described, has brought the collar L against the end of sleeve I the shaft H will be reversed, carrying the connected doffer B to the left and again bringing its ringsV upon color 1 1. As the shaft H is moved by the sleeve I, resting against the collar L, the collar L is brought against the outer end of the sleeve l, any momentum of the dotfer and connected parts which would tend to carry the doffer farther than the distance between the collar L and the outerend of the sleeve I will be resisted bythe tension of the spring M, which thus not only serves to force the dotfer to the right, but also acts as a buffer to check the momentum of the doifer in its instantaneous movement, which would otherwise be received by the stationary portion of IOO the frame-work, causing an injurious jarring of the rigid parts of the machine. Similarly the momentum of the doffer as it is moved in the opposite direction is resisted by the impact of the collar L against the outer end of the sleeve I.

In order to allow the spring M to act as a buffer, as described, the cams I( and K should be cut away so that the pins J will not strike the cams as they are released before the collars L L come in contact with the outer ends of thesleeves I l'. In this manner the continued reciprocation of the doffer is accomplished, a movement being effected to the right and left alternately at each half-revolution of the cams K and K', the spring M acting as the motive power to throw the doffer, and also serving as a buffer to grad n ally stop the doffer at the end of each throw, the dwell of the doffer being occupied by the cam which has last released its pin in again withdrawing its sleeve, and further compressing' the spring M to accomplish the next throw of the doffer. The cams upon the lower shaft II' are so arranged that the motion of the two doffers B Tf will be synchronous, but in opposite directions.

I am aware that dotfers have been heretofore moved actuated by the tension of a sprin Such is donc in the carding-engine forming the subject of the English Patent No. 502 of 1878, in which the doifer is moved positively in one direction by a cam, and on the reverse motion a spring is employ ed to hold the doffer against the cam, the conformation of the cam determining` the movement of the doffer in both directions, whereas in the mechanism forming the subject of my present invention the doffer is moved by the tension of a spring in both directions, and the cams are only elnployed for the purpose of compressing the springs in advance of the required motion of the doffers. The doifers are also moved by releasing the spring from the action of the cam and thus producing an instantaneous motion of the doffer, and the same spring which is employed to move the doffer is also utilized to check its motion.

Running loose upon the end of the sliding shaft H, but held between collars L and L'2 or shoulders on the shaft, is the pinion O, driven by the gear N, whose broad face provides for the lateral sliding motion of the pinion O and the shaft Il. Upon the hub of the pinion O are two grooves P P, separated by the ring Q, the position of the grooves allowing the latch R to drop into one or the other of the grooves at the end of each throw of the doffer, holding` it in proper position. The latch R turns upon the end of the shaft B', and is held in the grooves P P by the spring d, Fig. 3. The pinion O is driven at the same speed as the pinions G G and cams K K', and the grooves I) l? are filled at opposite points in their periphery 7L h, Fig. 3, presenting a cam-surface which lifts the latch R out of the groove in time to allow the sliding motion of the shaft II. The

grooves I l should be a trifle wider than the latch R to permit the slight recoil of the doffer caused by the buffing of the spring M.

The locking device conn ected with the shaft H is the same as that already described.

The frame su pportii'ig the actuating mechanism may be made a part of or` connected with the frame-work ot' the carding-e-ngine an d the proper alignment of doffer-shafts and sliding shafts secured; but in the construction shown the frame A A is detached, supported by the pillar l). and may be placed by the side of and connected with any ordinary finisher-card.

In the first case an ordinary swivel-joint may be used to connect the shafts which will permit the rotation of the (iOffer-shafts. In the latter case I use the joints V V, whichdo not require the exact alignment of the shafts. The collar S is fastened to the shaft Iil and carries on its upper side the pin s. The collars T are fixed to the end of the doffer-shaft, embracing the loose ring t, which has ings on its upper side through which the pivot-pin passes, forminga hinge for the link t', through the opposite end of which the pin s passes, thereby connecting the two shafts, allowing the (iOffer-shaft to rotate and admitting of a slight variation in the alignmentof the shafts in both the horizontal and vertical planes.

IVhenever it is necessary to take the dof-r fers out for repairing or cleaning the cards, the link t' may be removed from the pin s. The doffer-shafts slide through the hubs of the gears C C, the gears being held in position by the forked bar g, Fig. 6, inclosing the grooved hub f and attached to the frame of the card, rotary motion being imparted to the doffers by means of the splines F F.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only a small part of the frame of the carding-engine and a part of the surface of the main carding-cylinder A A, as the general construction and operation of a cardingengine embodying my invention does not varyfrom that in com mon use, except in those portions shown and described.

I do not claim the use of doffers having an endwise reciprocating movement, as such have before been used; but Y IVhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. rlhe combination,with acarding-cylinder and one or more doffing cylinders having spaced rings of card-clothing, of sliding shafts with their axes substantially in alignment with the axes of said doiiing-eylinders, springs whose tension is applied to move said sliding shafts alternately in opposite directions with an instantaneous movement, and mechanism by which said springs are compressed and released, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a carding-cylinder and one or more dofling-cylinders, of actuating-springs whose tension is applied to move said dofting-cylinders in opposite directions alternately, and cams having a continuous ro- IOO IIO

' tation and acting upon said springs to effect agradual compression of the springs, followed by an instantaneous releasing of said springs, allowing their tension to be applied to said (letting-cylinders, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the doffers of a tinisher card, ol? the actuating mechanism consisting of the spring M, cams K K', sleeves I l', with their projecting pins J, frame A A', splines a a, collars L L', and shaft H, as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with the longitudinally-reeiproeating doiers of a finisher-card and mechanism for actuating the same, of a locking device consisting of the pinion O, with its grooved hubs P P and cams 7L and latch R, with spring d, as described, and for the purposes set forth.

'5. The combination, with sliding shafts H Il', connected with the doffers of a finishercard and their connectedactuating mechanism and locking devices, as shown and described, of the driving-shaft B', gears E', F

'19', and N, pinion D', and pulley C', as described, and for the purposes set-forth.

6. The combination, with the rotary and lougitudinally-reciprocating (iOffer-shafts, the sliding shafts H H', and their actuating mechanism, of the joints V V, consisting of the fixed collar S, with the pin s, the fixed collars T,'the loose ring z', having lugs and pivot-pin, and the hinged connecting link t', as described, and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination, with a carding-cylinder and with one or more doffers and an actuating spring or springs M and mechanism for compressing and releasing said spring or springs, of shafts H H andconnecting-joints, substantially as described, between the shafts of the doffers and the shafts H H', substantially as described.

RUFUS BENNE'V FOWLER.

lVitnesses:

1:1'. L. PARKER, CHARLES F. STEVENS. 

